I know...that's exactly what happened. I think it was more one of those things where, when you go on a really grueling ride you kind of have a hard time getting in the saddle again?

I've done email with her, and she is still riding for enjoyment, and laying off the whole goal thing. And she's playing the cello!

That's why, when I used to post here more, I was kind of fiesty about trying to make sure that there was room for people to NOT push themselves too much. Sometimes (and I'm not talking about YOU GUYS, who seem to knock goals down and thrive on that kind of quantifiable achievement) people can make unrealistic goals as a way to motivate themselves, but then quit out of frustration/shame/feeling of failure. For some people, it is better to set very reasonable goals, and then surprise yourself with your achievement. Especially if they have a history of being discouraged by not following through with fitness plans.

Think of being a teenager, when you ride without a speedometer, and you just go adventuring. And you lose weight, so that makes you like it even more, and you ride more. And that makes you lose weight... and so on. You can see where that would be a very viable way of achieving fitness for many people.

But for you goal setters: RIDE ON!

Well tell Becky we say hi and wish her well the next time you two exchange emails.

I know...that's exactly what happened. I think it was more one of those things where, when you go on a really grueling ride you kind of have a hard time getting in the saddle again?

I've done email with her, and she is still riding for enjoyment, and laying off the whole goal thing. And she's playing the cello!

Wow, I hope she keeps with both. It was a really tough day for her in Mille Lacs, I remember that. I hope our (cain, pupsocket, and mine) antics weren't too much for her.

I agree that the goal thing can be depressing. I only try to set a few big ones, two this year. In both cases, I didn't quite make them, but they were so big in my mind that getting close felt great. I missed a day and a half of RAGBRAI for differing reasons and did 100 instead of 120 last Saturday.

I am happy with both, but I do think that setting even small goals and not making them can send you into reverse when you are starting. It's a frame of mind that I have been in regarding my health for years. Only in the last 2 years, I have been able to really set any kind of goal for health that I could take seriously and make progress towards.

That's why, when I used to post here more, I was kind of fiesty about trying to make sure that there was room for people to NOT push themselves too much. Sometimes (and I'm not talking about YOU GUYS, who seem to knock goals down and thrive on that kind of quantifiable achievement) people can make unrealistic goals as a way to motivate themselves, but then quit out of frustration/shame/feeling of failure. For some people, it is better to set very reasonable goals, and then surprise yourself with your achievement. Especially if they have a history of being discouraged by not following through with fitness plans.

I kind of decided I was screwing with the vibe too much.... but I still peruse! I thought about you all this year when they had the ride around Mille Lacs, but I was busy trying to get everything done to leave town and didn't go on the ride. I just wish it was 2 weeks earlier....

The end of April my wife and I bought a foreclosed acreage out in the country. The house needed a lot of work to finish and make nice. Our loan gave us 6 months to complete the project. I've spend the entire summer working day and night on the house and property getting it in tip top shape. I went weeks and months without riding or running. It's been TOUGH trying to keep the weight off. I'm happy and disappointed to say that I weigh about 210 right now. That's about 10-15 over my lowest. The good news is the house is done and I now have time to start riding and running again... just in time for winter. I dug the trainer out of the barn and the road bike out of the garage and set them up in the house. I've been trying to get out and run and ride my hybrid in the cold yet. Somewhere in all the house projects I found time to knock the wife up also. So now I have a wife who's 9 weeks pregnant and throwing up day and night. So in June 09 I'll be a dad.

The end of April my wife and I bought a foreclosed acreage out in the country. The house needed a lot of work to finish and make nice. Our loan gave us 6 months to complete the project. I've spend the entire summer working day and night on the house and property getting it in tip top shape. I went weeks and months without riding or running. It's been TOUGH trying to keep the weight off. I'm happy and disappointed to say that I weigh about 210 right now. That's about 10-15 over my lowest. The good news is the house is done and I now have time to start riding and running again... just in time for winter. I dug the trainer out of the barn and the road bike out of the garage and set them up in the house. I've been trying to get out and run and ride my hybrid in the cold yet. Somewhere in all the house projects I found time to knock the wife up also. So now I have a wife who's 9 weeks pregnant and throwing up day and night. So in June 09 I'll be a dad.

The end of April my wife and I bought a foreclosed acreage out in the country. The house needed a lot of work to finish and make nice. Our loan gave us 6 months to complete the project. I've spend the entire summer working day and night on the house and property getting it in tip top shape. I went weeks and months without riding or running. It's been TOUGH trying to keep the weight off. I'm happy and disappointed to say that I weigh about 210 right now. That's about 10-15 over my lowest. The good news is the house is done and I now have time to start riding and running again... just in time for winter. I dug the trainer out of the barn and the road bike out of the garage and set them up in the house. I've been trying to get out and run and ride my hybrid in the cold yet. Somewhere in all the house projects I found time to knock the wife up also. So now I have a wife who's 9 weeks pregnant and throwing up day and night. So in June 09 I'll be a dad.

Did you put a technical single track somewhere on that acreage? Maybe a wooden velodrome? You know, for the baby to play on. Congrats!

I wish I had enough acreage for a single track. I only have 3 acres so it gets pretty boring riding around in circles. I can get the dogs to follow me around the yard for about 5 laps then they just stand in the middle and watch me ride around in a circle like a moron.

I wish I had enough acreage for a single track. I only have 3 acres so it gets pretty boring riding around in circles. I can get the dogs to follow me around the yard for about 5 laps then they just stand in the middle and watch me ride around in a circle like a moron.

You gotta lay it out like a bowl of spaghetti. Winding and crisscrossing itself w/ some logs to jump, holes to jump, ladders, tight hairpins, etc. Or you could just put in a pump track.